ID photos used to keep tabs on seal colonies

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Advances in technology will help scientists to monitor the lifespans of grey sealsW. Paterson, SMRU.
Press Office
University of St Andrews

Scotland Staff

Last updated at 12:16AM, December 15 2012

A new computerised photo-ID system is helping scientists to monitor the grey seal population in Britain and farther afield.

The automated system uses a form of pattern recognition to match unique identifying marks on the animals with thousands of images held in a digital catalogue.

The technology gives scientists the ability to identify and track many animals without the need to handle them. In particular, it allows researchers to monitor population levels, learning about an individual seal’s lifespan and the pups to which it gives birth.

Experts at St Andrews and Durham universities, along with Conservation Research, have been using